Health Alert: Life’s Essential 8 Also Lowers Cancer Risk. The American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 is
a set of health-related behaviors and clinical measures—including not smoking, good sleep hygiene, maintaining a
healthy weight, a nutritious diet, regular physical activity, and healthy levels of blood glucose, cholesterol, and blood
pressure—that are linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. According to data from the REGARDS study,
meeting these eight criteria is also associated with a 52% lower risk of developing cancer over a 14-year period.
JACC. Advances, April 2025
Diet: High-Salt Diet Linked to Depression? A recent animal study found that high sodium intake increases
production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-17A, which was associated with depression-like behaviors in mice.
If these findings translate to humans, reducing salt intake could become a consideration in the management or
prevention of certain mood disorders. Journal of Immunology, March 2025
Exercise: Getting Active in Midlife May Improve Brain Health Too. Among a group of 337 middle-aged adults,
those who increased their physical activity levels to meet or exceed exercise guidelines (at least 150 minutes of
moderate-to-vigorous physical activity a week) exhibited less beat-amyloid accumulation and greater cortical
thickness, which are key indicators of brain health. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, April 2025
Chiropractic: Treatment for Acute Neck Pain. A systematic review that included eight clinical trials found that
spinal manipulative therapy is a safe and effective intervention for improving pain, disability, and range of motion in
patients with acute neck pain. Spinal manipulative therapy is the primary form of treatment provided by
chiropractors. Systematic Reviews, May 2025
Mental Attitude: Early Menopause May Indicate Future Cognitive Issues. Researchers from Tohoku University
report that middle-aged women in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing who experienced menopause before age
40 showed greater declines in thinking and memory skills over a two-year period than those who entered menopause
after age 50. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, April 2025
Wellness/Prevention: AI May Help Detect Heart Problems During Routine Visits. Heart muscle weakness,
defined as a left ventricular ejection fraction below 50%, affects an estimated 1-3% of women of childbearing age
and can significantly increase the risk of complications during pregnancy for both mother and baby. A recent study
conducted by Mayo Clinic researchers found that tools like digital stethoscopes, when combined with artificial
intelligence (AI), can detect heart dysfunction during routine primary care visits—even before symptoms appear—
allowing for earlier interventions to reduce the risk of pregnancy-related complications.
Annals of Family Medicine, April 2025
Quote: “A good goal is like a strenuous exercise – it makes you stretch.” ~ Mary Kay Ash
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Rio Vista region.

Health Alert: Is Poor Sleep Linked to Elevated Risk of Organ Failure? Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM)
syndrome is an interconnected cluster of conditions—including heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and metabolic
disorders like diabetes and obesity—that collectively increase the risk of organ failure and premature death. An
analysis of data concerning more than 10,600 adults revealed an association between poor sleep quality and
advanced stages of CKM syndrome. The findings suggest that poor sleep hygiene may hasten the progression of
CKM syndrome, though further studies are needed to better understand the relationship.
Journal of the American Heart Association, March 2025
Diet: Time-Restricted Eating May Improve Benefits of Exercise. New research suggests that combining timerestricted
eating—such as only eating during an eight-hour window, for example—with exercise provides greater
results with respect to fat loss and reduced body fat percentage than exercise alone, without a loss of lean muscle
mass. International Journal of Obesity, April 2025
Exercise: Exercise Has Role in Cancer Treatment. An umbrella reviews that pooled findings from 80 previously
published articles found that exercise not only reduces harmful side effects of cancer treatments like heart and nerve
damage, brain fog, and fatigue, but it also provides benefits such as improved sleep, mood, social functioning, and
overall quality of life. British Journal of Sports Medicine, April 2025
Chiropractic: Text Neck Syndrome Common Among Medical Students. Text neck syndrome is a repetitive
strain injury caused by prolonged forward head posture—typically from looking down at phones or screens—which
leads to neck pain, stiffness, and sometimes headaches or shoulder discomfort. Questionnaires completed by 555
medical students revealed about 1 in 4 suffer from text neck syndrome, and the condition is associated with using
digital devices in excess of four hours a day, especially among those who are overweight and sedentary.
Work, March 2025
Mental Attitude: Liver Disease Linked to Dementia? Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
(MAFLD) is a form of liver disease caused by poor metabolic health rather than excessive alcohol consumption.
Using data from the UK Biobank study, researchers report that MAFLD is associated with a 52% elevated risk of
dementia. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, March 2025
Wellness/Prevention: School-Based Asthma Programs Improve Kids’ Health. A pilot program conducted in two
Ohio school districts found that students with asthma who received daily medication from school nurses had better
asthma control and were approximately 50% less likely to visit the emergency room for breathing-related issues.
Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: Global, May 2025
Quote: “Nothing is harder than to accept oneself.” ~ Max Frisch
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Rio Vista region.

Health Alert: Antibiotics Might Increase Risk of Childhood Asthma and Allergies. A large-scale study by
Rutgers University found that children who received multiple courses of antibiotics before age two had a 24% higher
risk of developing asthma, a 33% increased risk of food allergies, and a 6% greater risk of seasonal allergies by age
twelve. These findings suggest that early antibiotic exposure may disrupt immune system development, leading to
long-term allergic conditions. Journal of Infectious Diseases, April 2025
Diet: Plant-Based Diet May Benefit Kidney Disease Patients. A recent clinical trial conducted by the University
of Wollongong found that for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), adopting a diverse, plant-based diet—
comprising over 30 different plant foods per week—significantly improved gut microbiome diversity and reduced
levels of harmful toxins in the blood and urine. These findings suggest that such a dietary approach may slow disease
progression and enhance quality of life for individuals living with CKD.
Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, March 2025
Exercise: Physical Activity Lowers Risk of Premature Death in Depression Patients. Using data from the
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, researchers found that among individuals with depression, those
who engaged in at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity had a 40% lower risk of allcause
mortality over the next 13 years compared to those who remained inactive.
Frontiers in Public Health, April 2025
Chiropractic: Treatment for Mechanical Neck Pain. For patients with mechanical neck pain, a recent study found
cervical spine manipulation—a treatment commonly performed by doctors of chiropractic—combined with neck
retraction exercises was more effective at improving pain intensity and cervical range of motion than neck exercises
alone. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, May 2025
Mental Attitude: Brain Pathway May Play Role in Depression. A recent study involving 150 adolescents found
that an imbalance in the kynurenine pathway—specifically, reduced levels of the neuroprotective metabolite
kynurenic acid and increased levels of the neurotoxic metabolite quinolinic acid—is associated with a higher risk of
depression, particularly among teenage girls. The researchers suggest that interventions targeting this pathway, such
as dietary modifications, exercise, and inflammation reduction, may help manage or prevent depression in
adolescents. Biological Psychiatry, March 2025
Wellness/Prevention: Vitamin D and Colorectal Cancer. Current research suggests that healthy vitamin D status
is associated with a lower risk for colorectal cancer, and sufficient vitamin D levels are linked to better outcomes
among those who do develop the disease. The Conversation, May 2025
Quote: “Sooner or later, those who win are those who think they can.” ~ Paul Tournier
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Rio Vista region.

Health Alert: Nearly a Quarter of American Children Affected by Parental Substance Abuse. Using data from
the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, researchers estimate that nearly 19 million children in the United
States live with a parent or primary caregiver who abuses alcohol, cannabis, or illicit or prescription drugs.
JAMA Pediatrics, May 2025
Diet: Nuts and Seeds Safe for Diverticulitis Patients. Researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill report that contrary to long-standing dietary advice, patients with diverticulitis should have no issue consuming
nuts, seeds, or even fruits with seeds. Annals of Internal Medicine, May 2025
Exercise: One Reason Physical Activity Declines with Age… Northeastern University researchers report that
physical activity has a positive effect on the salience network—a part of the brain that regulates attention and selfcontrol,
including the ability to resist sedentary impulses. In less active individuals, this network begins to lose
integrity around age 50, which may help explain the decline in physical activity commonly seen in midlife. In
contrast, individuals who remain physically active throughout life tend to maintain better function in this network,
supporting continued engagement in exercise.
Journals of Gerontology, Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, May 2025
Chiropractic: Deep Spinal Muscles May Contribute to Chronic Low Back Pain. The lumbar multifidus is a deep
spinal stabilizing muscle situated along the vertebrae in the lower back, essential for providing segmental support
and controlling precise movements of the lumbar spine. Current research indicates that atrophy, fatty infiltration, and
abnormal function of the lumbar multifidus are correlated with non-specific chronic low back pain. These findings
suggest that healthcare providers should assess the condition of the lumbar multifidus and incorporate targeted
interventions to strengthen and restore its function as part of a comprehensive chronic low back pain management
strategy. Pain Practice, June 2025
Mental Attitude: ADHD May Slow Concussion Recovery. According to a study that looked at the outcomes of
nearly 1,000 student athletes who sustained a concussion, those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
took 17% and 16% longer to return to sports and class, respectively. Journal of Athletic Training, May 2025
Wellness/Prevention: Breastfeeding Benefits Mother and Child. The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and
Agricultural Sciences notes that breast milk provides infants with essential antibodies and beneficial microbes that
support the development of their immune system and can protect them from infection and auto-immune-related
conditions such as asthma. Additionally, women who breastfeed have a reduced risk of high blood pressure, type 2
diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. Unfortunately, only 24.9% of infants in the United States are exclusively
breastfed during the first six months of life. University of Florida, May 2025
Quote: “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.” ~ Margaret Fuller
Joseph T. Megna, D.C.
(707) 226-5200
DRJOEMEGNA
I found that Dr. Joe Megna is one of the best chiropractors I have found in the Rio Vista region.